SOQUEL -- The Santa Cruz County District Attorney's Office is examining a case involving a 16-year-old arrested in December on suspicion of committing sexual battery against a fellow Soquel High School student and a subsequent phone call made by the principal's wife to the victim's mother.

District Attorney Bob Lee confirmed his agency is reviewing an investigative report from the Sheriff's Office to determine whether to prosecute the juvenile. Lee said he is awaiting a separate sheriff's report regarding the contact Barbara Lawrence-Emanuel initiated with the parent.

Lawrence-Emanuel is married to Soquel High Principal Ken Lawrence-Emanuel and is herself a high school principal in Monterey County.

Sheriff's Sgt. Jim Ross said investigators have recommended prosecuting the 16-year-old, who was cited and released on a misdemeanor charge of sexual battery in connection with the Dec. 3 incident that occurred on campus. The Sentinel is not identifying him because he is a minor.

After a 15-year-old student confided in a teacher that the boy, whom she knows, touched her inappropriately, Ross said the teacher reported the incident to a school resource officer who determined there was probable cause to issue a citation, which Ross said is a form of arrest. He said sexual battery is defined as unwanted touching on an intimate part of the body with the intent to create sexual arousal.

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Ross said investigators have filed a report with the District Attorney's Office about the contact made by Barbara Lawrence-Emanuel with the victim's mother but said more investigation may take place. Ross said the report provides no recommendation to prosecutors about the contact.

Barbara Lawrence-Emanuel, principal of Gonzales High School and a former assistant principal at Aptos High, did not return two phone messages left at her workplace or two emails sent to her work address. She did not reply to an email sent to her husband seeking comment from her.

Ken Lawrence-Emanuel said someone else handled the sexual battery case at his school but he declined to answer questions from the Sentinel about the phone call made by his wife or other aspects of the case. He said he was advised not to speak to the newspaper.

The case is cloaked in secrecy because of the confidentiality afforded juvenile suspects as well as school employees regarding personnel issues. Yet, multiple school sources, some of whom spoke confidentially because of the sensitive nature of the case, say there are widespread concerns about how it was handled.

In addition to the phone call made by the principal's wife, there are questions about why the boy was allowed to return to campus while suspended in connection with the sexual battery case. Multiple officials confirmed the victim saw the boy, who was there to take a final exam, and reported it to a teacher.

Barry Kirschen, president of the teachers union, said, "A number of Soquel High faculty members expressed concern to me that the matter hasn't been handled appropriately and according to standard protocol."

Santa Cruz City Schools board President Patty Threet said a parent contacted her by email in December with concerns about the case and she shared the email with Superintendent Gary Bloom. Threet said Bloom later informed her "we have a situation with one of our administrators or staff."

Threet, a parent leader at Soquel High, said she knows people are discussing the matter on campus but she has chosen to stay out of it.

"If there was any follow-up through HR, you don't want to stick your hands into anything," Threet said.

Bloom, whose office is on the Soquel High campus, would not acknowledge during an initial interview Monday whether there had been a sexual battery case. However, in a follow-up email later that day, Bloom confirmed an incident had occurred on campus that was "handled through the student discipline process and referred to law enforcement."

Bloom added, "Over the past week, we have been in receipt of additional information which we are investigating to ensure that this matter is being handled appropriately." He did not provide specific details.

"Soquel High School is a very safe campus served by a dedicated staff," Bloom wrote. "Santa Cruz City Schools' disciplinary policies and procedures ensure that our schools maintain positive and productive learning environments, and that our students' rights and best interests are at the forefront."